New Delhi, July 25, 2026: MakeMyTrip Foundation, the social impact arm of MakeMyTrip, has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) and The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa to launch 'Ruh-e-Gul', an initiative aimed at strengthening waste management and promoting responsible tourism in Gulmarg.
The initiative seeks to improve waste collection, processing and scientific disposal systems in one of India's most visited Himalayan destinations. As tourist footfall continues to grow, the partners aim to enhance waste management infrastructure while restoring identified waste dumping sites and preserving Gulmarg's natural environment.
Under the project, community waste bins and collection trolleys will be installed at high-footfall locations, with additional manpower deployed for waste collection across key tourist areas. The initiative will also support the upgradation of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and a bio-gas plant to strengthen scientific waste management. Public spaces, including roadsides, pathways, roundabouts and tourist signage, will also be improved. Awareness campaigns will engage tourists, local businesses and residents to encourage responsible waste disposal and sustainable tourism practices.
Speaking about the initiative, Yuvaraj Srivastava, Trustee, MakeMyTrip Foundation, and Group CHRO, MakeMyTrip, said, “Gulmarg has always held a special place in the hearts of India's travellers, and protecting that charm requires conscious effort on all our parts. Through this initiative, we aim to contribute towards sustainable waste management infrastructure to help Gulmarg keep pace with its growing tourist footfall. It builds on our earlier waste management work at Dal Lake in Srinagar and several other destinations across the country, reflecting the Foundation's long-standing commitment to preserving India's landscapes and communities. We are grateful to Shri Omar Abdullah, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, for supporting us in bringing this project to life.”
Tariq Hussain Naik, CEO, Gulmarg Development Authority, said, “Gulmarg draws visitors from across India and the world and it is our collective responsibility to safeguard it. As custodians of this destination, we are committed to ensuring that the infrastructure and systems keep pace with the growing footfall that Gulmarg receives and continue to position it as a global destination. Through this collaboration, we are putting in place what Gulmarg needs to continue to welcome everyone without compromising the natural beauty that makes it so special.”
Umar Khurshid Tramboo, Managing Director, The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, said, “The Khyber has always believed that a destination's health and its hospitality industry's success are deeply intertwined. Gulmarg is our home and its beauty is its greatest asset, and also its most fragile one. A destination is only as good as the experience it offers, and for us, that experience extends well beyond our property. We remain committed to preserving Gulmarg's natural environment, so that its charm endures for generations of travellers to come.”
According to the Foundation, Gulmarg generates nearly 4 metric tonnes of waste daily, and the 'Ruh-e-Gul' initiative aims to build the infrastructure required for its sustainable management. The Foundation's broader environmental initiatives include planting over 2.8 million saplings across multiple states and supporting the responsible collection and disposal of 990 metric tonnes of waste from tourist destinations across India.
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